As the name implies, it’s crazy for all things mobile – apps, smartphones, tablets, e-readers and all that – with a development, business and marketing spin. Folks from bitHeads, App-Promo, TimePlay Entertainment, Ipsos and Sympatico will be there, presenting new data from the mobile game industry and talking it up with attendees.

And, back to April 7 for just a moment, that’s also the finale for the Battle of the Apps,when the best Toronto-focused mobile app that boosts the city’s image will be unveiled (I’m telling you, an app that tracks all these app-a-thons and help get ya from one to the other will win!).

Anyway, this Thursday Madness comes to Toronto with its look at the Canadian mobile market, and how to develop for it and how to profit from it.

Jeff Bacon, with Ottawa’s mobile development company bitHeads, says he thinks “information gaps” are holding the mobile channel back. That there are lots of business opportunities there for everyone involved – developers, service providers, retailers, marketers and advertisers, but “[N]ew mobile revenue and marketing opportunities … are often overlooked.”

Mobile gaming business opportunities will be described at upcoming industry events

So the program will feature the first public presentation of the new Mobil-ology survey from Ipsos, with initial results on the state of the Canadian mobile market, and how applications, smartphones, tablets, and e-readers are doing.

Then, bitHeads leads a mobile application development panel with successful case studies at hand, and App-Promo looks at application marketing and promotion—including case studies from Sympatico.

There’s already a lot of developers looking for downloads at that event in Yonge Dundas Square.

More than 50 development teams from across Canada made the deadline and their apps were successfully submitted. A dozen or so will receive prizes in the contest, including that big one, and a couple will be chosen to go on to hit the App Store following further polishing and promotion.

“It’s the most ambitious, maybe the largest app-a-thon,” enthused Ray Sharma, founder of Toronto’s XMG Studio and key partner in the contest. He’s still buzzed about the weekend-long marathon event, and eager to “get down to business” and “take over Dundas Square.”

With a host of giant screens enabling judging in real-time, he sees the show as making someone “instantly famous. Innovation will come alive in the Square and a community of developers will show what we can produce here in Canada.”

Meanwhile, not far away at Ryerson University’s Engineering and Computing Centre, the Battle of the Apps draws to a close.

Already five finalists have been selected, and their “Toronto-centric mobile application (I.e. enhances, adds value to, or promotes Toronto in some way” will be put to the test in a full concept presentation.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges.

First place receives $3,000 in cash, while second and third place receives $1,000 and $500 respectively.

Organizers describe the purpose of the competition is to support mobile development across Toronto, and D1 president Daniel Ezer adds that another goal is to remind local programmers and designers that not all the best tech jobs are in southern California.

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The Canadian Wireless Trade Show (CWTS) is Canada’s first B2B wireless tradeshow dedicated to bringing together all the stakeholders in the telecommunications industry’s. Essentially it is a first of its kind event that brings together all the players in the industry for the purposes of company specific and industry wide business development through networking, presentations, seminars, exhibitions and guest speakers.

Who should attend the Canadian Wireless Trade Show
Industry players include carriers/service providers, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, mobile app developers, regulators/government academics and consumer groups.
This event will be held from September 15th -16th, 2011 at the Toronto Congress Centre and will feature:

• Over 30,000 sq. ft of quality exhibitor space
• Thousands of attendees from across the wireless business sector
• Hundreds of industry exhibitors displaying the latest products and services

This event is not open to the general public and has been created to benefit the professionals and corporations working in the wireless communications industry.
• Informative – CWTS will inform and educate participants on the very latest wireless trends.
• Innovative – CWTS will allow participants to see and try innovative wireless technologies and products.
• Interactive – CWTS will be able to interact as well as network with business leaders from corporations around the world.

Mission – The Canadian Wireless Trade Show provides end-to-end solutions for the wireless industry by offering a tradeshow that incorporates various channels related to Wireless and telecom.
Vision – to be Canada’s premiere wireless tradeshow
Values – informative, innovative and interactive

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